Little Giant 50 road trip/Update 11-04

RMLamey

RMLamey

Joined
Nov 13, 1998
Messages
2,598
Heading out to pick this up tomorrow, real late model #50 Little Giant. Has the grooved clutch pulley, and came from the factory as shown with double adjustable toggle arms. Also picking up about 500 lb. of spring steel, presumably 5160.

Going to disassemble to top end while the motor is being checked out, hope to have it up and running by next weekend. Will post more info/pics Monday.

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That's a good looking hammer. Removable sow block, nice toggle linkage, grease zerks everywhere, it's a whole new ball game from my old (1906) LG 50. Awesome.

I'm headed out this morning to build a safety cage around the front of the linkage on mine. Will you be adding that to yours?

Have fun with your trip. How far do you have to drive? Do you mind mentioning what this hammer set you back?
 
Like usual, the toggle links are in backwards. :D

That's a great lookin late model, very late model. Should be a fine hammer!!!

Sorry I missed your call man. We'll talk later... Have a safe trip.
 
Good catch Don, I'm still baffled by the double spring adjustment.

Good lucking hammer.

Dave from Diller
 
Nice! I'd love to have a power hammer.. so expensive new and so rare (and still pretty expensive) used, at least in Ontario.
 
HI all, hard to say exactly what it set me back as I did some horse trading etc. Yeah I noticed the toggle links are flipped, which is real common, alot of them left LG that way. The double adjustment arms were sometimes done on the really late hammers, but I dont think it was purposeful... we will see if the double has any net affect on tuning.

Kentucky if your has a double groove clutch pulley it was added later, which is a good thing, they didnt use that double groove pulley set up until the early/mid 60's.

Heading out either tonight or in the AM, had to ship 2 knives before I left and as usual that took longer than I expected!


EDITED: Kentucky I think I know your hammer, if it has a brake and full cage etc. Ive seen pics of it and remember thinking to myself- some one has really built that hammer RIGHT! Its a good looking hammer and Im betting it runs very well.

SALEM- Im not going to put a guard or cage on it, I dont see the need for one as long as the hammer is well maintained and inspected often etc. Ive thought about it, but see guys that use LG's daily, hard, without them and without incident.
 
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Yeah, I've seen them run all day without a guard, too. Mine just has old welded toggle arms and an old spring, I figured better safe than sorry. I just got done building the cage, it came out pretty nice.

Is this your first hammer, or do you have/had others? Do you have some billets planned for this hammer, or do you already have a press for pattern welding?
 
RMlamey....
yea, the guy that had our hammer was Danny Downs, a industrial blacksmith out of Louisville,Ky..He machined and fabricated a lot of new parts for the hammer..Forged toggle links, brake, machined new guides, a nice age and some other stuff..It runs like a dream..Im very pleased to have it, Im sure you will be with yours too..This the one your thinking about?
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I think Matt has had about 5 dozen hammers. :eek: :D

Looks great Matt! Superb condition from what I can see here. :)
 
HI all, Kentucky... yep thats the hammer I was thinking of, someone (Danny) went to great lengths to build a damn nice one!! Thats probably the best thought out "guard" ive seen on a LG. If you get time can you get some real good photos of how the brake is fabricated and post or email to me??

Salem, at a minimum I would get a new spring from Sid if yours is weak/worn out, springs make a big difference in performance on these hammers from what I have seen.

Nick your telling lies on me!! Ive only owned 6 or 7!:p Now I have have been known to find hammers for others in the past too.
 
Yes pics would be no problem..Ill get some took tomorrow and post them here or send them to you..
Thats a dang nice #50 your picking up..I really like that late style..
 
Well got the hammer home, after going through everything it was obviously bought for 1 job, or bought with "overage" funds, then put up. There was absolutely no noticeable wear on anything, pins, holes, guides etc.... all in new condition. The only issue was it has been exposed to the weather for a while, so it took plenty of penetrating catalyst to help break everything free. When I took the main caps off, there was some pitting on the shaft area due to water sitting over the hears through the oil holes. I cleaned up the pitting with a wire wheel so it would be easier on the babbit than rough pitting.

Brought the motor (3 phase, 2hp) to Martins Electric in Jasper, this is one of those old school "downtown" family run shops and worth its weight in gold. They checked everything out, hooked it to power, and its so quiet I thought it wasnt working... until the guy told me "your good to go". Then I realized it was running but dead quiet.

So I took the top end apart, wire wheeled the frame and everything I could get to. I painted with primer, then "granite" grey, will have pics of it painted in a few days. Still have to bead blast/paint all the parts that are off the hammer. Here are a few pics after getting it off the trucks, then of it "stripped". More later.

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Matt, that's goin to be a great hammer for ya man!!!

I have often wanted a very late, like new model 50 lber.

Not that I need one, but would round out my Little Giant collection. :D
 
It's great that the hammer is basically like new. I bet it will look real nice painted, I'd paint mine but I don't feel like taking the top end apart for a while now. Happy hammerin'.

Don, as always, your new #100 makes me jealous.:eek:
 
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